J. Clifford Wallace

J. Clifford Wallace, a senior judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, has been selected as the 2005 recipient of the Edward J. Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award. Judge Wallace was chosen by a three-member panel chaired by United States Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy; other members of the panel are Chief Judge John M. Walker, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; and Chief Judge Barbara Brandriff Crabb, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Judge Wallace was sworn in as United States District Judge for the Southern District of California in 1970 and was elevated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in 1972, serving as chief judge from 1991-1996. In the course of his duties he has written several hundred lucid opinions spanning the range of the substantive legal issues presented to the federal courts.

Early in his career, Judge Wallace became known for his interest and expertise in issues of judicial administration. He was instrumental in the field of state-federal judicial relations, in the improvement of relations between the bench and bar, and in the pursuit of judicial efficiency for trial and appellate courts. He also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Together with the late Chief Justice Warren Burger, Judge Wallace was the first proponent of the idea that led to the establishment of the American Inns of Court, and he remains active in the work of that association.  Among his many contributions to judicial administration was his participation in shaping the legislation that authorized the present structure for a judicial discipline system in the federal courts, and he has served on numerous Committees and Subcommittees of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

Judge Wallace used his vacation to work with foreign judiciaries, but now has found new dimensions for the role of a senior judge. Since taking senior status in 1996, he has traveled extensively to developing countries to teach the importance of judicial education, judicial efficiency, and judicial excellence. His reputation as a dedicated spokesman for the rule of law is known by judges in Russia, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. He continues to perform this pioneering work not only as a student of the law and of judicial systems, but as a compassionate, concerned human being. The Devitt Committee recognized that Judge Wallace has brought new meaning to the ideal of judicial service the award seeks to exemplify.

The Devitt Distinguished Service to Justice Award is named for the late Edward J. Devitt, longtime chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The award, made annually, honors Article III judges whose careers have been exemplary, measured by their significant contributions to the administration of justice, the advancement of the rule of law, and the improvement of society as a whole. It is administered by AJS with funding provided by the Dwight D. Opperman Foundation, Minneapolis. The honor includes $15,000 and is symbolized by an inscribed crystal obelisk. The award will be presented at a ceremony later this year.